Action Team program launches

Players Trust, VOA announce 2007-08 initiative

The Major League Baseball Players Trust and Volunteers of America will spread their inspirational message of volunteerism to hundreds of thousands of students again this school year.

Kicking off the fifth year of their Action Team partnership, the MLBPA and VOA announced the launch of a 2007-08 school year initiative in which dozens of players will work with more than 200 high school Action Team Captains in 16 cities. The Action Team's volunteerism message will also reach more than 700,000 high school students in upwards of 5,000 classrooms through the Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition.

"Major Leaguers are very proud of the job the Action Teams are doing to inspire thousands of high school kids to volunteer in their communities," said Jimmy Rollins, an active member of the Philadelphia Action Team. "Volunteers of America and high school students from across the country help Major League players deliver an important message -- volunteering is fun and personally rewarding."

Action Teams have inspired more than 9,000 young people to volunteer to help over 38,000 people in need since it launched as a pilot program in Denver during the 2002-03 school year. The communities of Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mobile, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland (Maine), San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC, will benefit from Action Team student volunteer activities during this school year.

Action Team captains typically spend time in training and discussion with Major League players, then return to their high schools with the skills and plans necessary to activate more student volunteers.

Often joined by players, students participate in school-based activities and Volunteers of America programs that serve at-risk kids, the elderly, persons with disabilities, homeless individuals and families, and many others. Projects include reading to children; serving meals at homeless shelters and senior centers; collecting food, clothing and gifts; hosting holiday activities; and charitable fundraising.

The Action Team program is the primary initiative of the players' thriving partnership with Volunteers of America,
a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Through thousands of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in more than 400 communities.

"We are pleased to team up with the Major League Baseball Players Trust because we know the players share our commitment to increasing the level of volunteerism among America's young people," Volunteers of America President and CEO Charles W. Gould said. "When people start volunteering at a young age and find their experience to be positive, they'll likely continue volunteering into their adult lives."

The Action Teams also conduct a nationwide public service campaign titled "I Volunteer Because..." to build awareness about the importance of volunteering. The 30- and 60-second television spots feature personal testimonials from high school student Action Team Captains, together with Carlos Delgado (Mets), Nomar Garciaparra (Dodgers) and Joe Mauer (Twins).

Here's a list of the Major League players participating in the Action Team program during the 2007-08 school year:

Boston

Players: Alex Cora, David Ortiz and Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox
Schools: Boston College High School, Boston Latin High School and Madison Park
Technical Vocational High School in Boston; English High School in Jamaica Plain; and Newton North High School in Newton

Cincinnati

Players: Ken Griffey, Jr., Eddie Guardado and Javier Valentin of the Cincinnati Reds
Schools: Elder High School, Oak Hills High School and Seton High School in Cincinnati

Dallas/Ft. Worth

Players: Brad Wilkerson and Michael Young of the Texas Rangers
Schools: Jean Massieu Academy and Arlington High School in Arlington, TX; North Side Senior High School and Arlington Heights High School in Forth Worth, TX.

Denver

Players: Jamey Carroll, LaTroy Hawkins and Cory Sullivan of the Colorado Rockies
Schools: Denver Academy and The Johnson Program

Detroit

Players: Curtis Granderson and Nate Robertson of the Detroit Tigers
Schools: Mumford High School in Detroit; Ferndale High School in Ferndale; Fraser High School in Fraser; Waverly High School in Lansing; and Warren Woods Tower High School in Warren

Houston

Players: Jason Jennings, Hunter Pence and Chris Sampson of the Houston Astros
Schools: Mayde Creek High School and Reagan High School in Houston

Indianapolis

Players: Ken Griffey, Jr., Eddie Guardado and Javier Valentin of the Cincinnati Reds
Schools: Cathedral High School in Indianapolis; and Mooresville High School in Mooresville

Minneapolis/St. Paul

Players: Lew Ford and Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins
Schools: Volunteers of America of Minnesota Education Center; Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park; and Mounds Park Academy and St. Paul Academy and Summit School in St. Paul

Mobile, Ala. Schools: Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette; St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile; and CF Vigor High School in Pritchard

New York City

Players: Carlos Delgado, Shawn Green and Jose Valentin of the New York Mets
Schools: Cathedral High School in New York City; and Queens Vocational and Technical School and High School for Arts and Business in Queens

Oakland/San Francisco

Players: Eric Chavez, Mark Kotsay and Huston Street of the Oakland A's; and Randy Winn of the San Francisco Giants
Schools: Athenian High School in Danville; Mt. Eden High School in Hayward; SkyLine High School in Oakland; Miramonte High School in Orinda; and KIPP King Collegiate High School in San Lorenzo

Philadelphia

Players: Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies
Schools: Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter High School in Philadelphia;
Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, NJ; Collingswood High School in Collingswood, NJ; Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester, NJ; and Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, NJ

Portland, Maine

Players: Alex Cora, David Ortiz and Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox
Schools: Edward Little High School in Auburn; Thornton Academy in Saco; and Scarborough High School in Scarborough

Seattle

Players: Raul Ibanez and J.J. Putz of the Seattle Mariners
Schools: Archbishop Murphy High School and Cascade High School in Everett; and Sultan High School in Sultan

Washington, DC

Players: Chad Cordero, Felipe Lopez and Brian Schneider of the Washington Nationals
Schools: St. Stephen's/St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA; and Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.